Gas compressor pressure relief noise reduction

Abstract

A gas compressor assembly configured to pressurize an airflow received from the ambient for delivery to an internal combustion engine having a cylinder includes a compressor housing. A compressor wheel is disposed inside the compressor housing and configured to pressurize the airflow. A compressor bypass is configured to direct the pressurized airflow away from the cylinder. A pressure relief valve is configured to selectively open and close the compressor bypass to thereby limit pressure of the pressurized airflow and minimize surge of the compressor wheel. A baffle arranged inside the compressor bypass is configured to dissipate energy of a sound wave generated by the pressurized airflow upon an initial opening of the pressure relief valve. An internal combustion engine employing such a turbocharger is also disclosed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An internal combustion engine comprising:
 a cylinder configured to receive an air-fuel mixture for combustion therein; 
 a reciprocating piston disposed inside the cylinder; and 
 a gas compressor assembly configured to pressurize an airflow being received from an ambient and deliver the pressurized airflow to the cylinder, the gas compressor assembly including:
 a compressor housing; 
 a compressor wheel disposed inside the compressor housing and configured to pressurize the airflow; 
 a compressor bypass configured to direct the pressurized airflow away from the cylinder; 
 a pressure relief valve configured to selectively open and close the compressor bypass to thereby limit pressure of the pressurized airflow and minimize surge of the compressor wheel; and 
 a baffle arranged inside the compressor bypass and configured to dissipate energy of a sound wave generated by the pressurized airflow upon an initial opening of the pressure relief valve; 
 wherein:
 the baffle is configured as a sleeve-ring defining a plurality of apertures configured to pass the pressurized airflow; 
 the plurality of apertures includes at least one aperture oriented perpendicular to at least one other aperture; and 
 in a cross-sectional plane, the sleeve-ring has a shape including a plurality of bends configured to maximize a surface area of the sleeve-ring to thereby accommodate the plurality of apertures. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve-ring shape and the plurality of apertures are together configured to dissipate enginery of the sound wave generated by the pressurized airflow upon the initial opening of the pressure relief valve. 
     
     
       3. The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes a feature configured to retain the baffle. 
     
     
       4. The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is retained relative to the compressor housing via one of a snap-ring and a weld. 
     
     
       5. The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is formed from one of steel, aluminum, and a temperature-resistant plastic material. 
     
     
       6. The engine of  claim 1 , further comprising an intake tract, wherein the compressor bypass is configured to direct the pressurized airflow into the intake tract. 
     
     
       7. The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bends includes five bends. 
     
     
       8. The engine of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes a valve housing and a piston configured to shift therein, and wherein the feature configured to retain the baffle is one of mechanically fixed to the valve housing and integrally formed therewith. 
     
     
       9. The engine of  claim 8 , wherein the feature is configured as one or more projections configured to engage and fix the baffle when the baffle is arranged inside the compressor bypass. 
     
     
       10. A gas compressor assembly configured to pressurize an airflow received from an ambient for delivery to an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, the gas compressor assembly comprising:
 a compressor housing; 
 a compressor wheel disposed inside the compressor housing and configured to pressurize the airflow; 
 a compressor bypass configured to direct the pressurized airflow away from the combustion chamber; 
 a pressure relief valve configured to selectively open and close the compressor bypass to thereby limit pressure of the pressurized airflow and minimize surge of the compressor wheel; and 
 a baffle arranged inside the compressor bypass and configured to dissipate energy of a sound wave generated by the pressurized airflow upon an initial opening of the pressure relief valve; 
 wherein:
 the baffle is configured as a sleeve-ring defining a plurality of apertures configured to pass the pressurized airflow; 
 the plurality of apertures includes at least one aperture oriented perpendicular to at least one other aperture; and 
 in a cross-sectional plane, the sleeve-ring has a shape including a plurality of bends configured to maximize a surface area of the sleeve-ring to thereby accommodate the plurality of apertures. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The gas compressor assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve-ring shape and the plurality of apertures are together configured to dissipate enginery of the sound wave generated by the pressurized airflow upon the initial opening of the pressure relief valve. 
     
     
       12. The gas compressor assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes a feature configured to retain the baffle. 
     
     
       13. The gas compressor assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the baffle is retained relative to the compressor housing via one of a snap-ring and a weld. 
     
     
       14. The gas compressor assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the baffle is formed from one of steel, aluminum, and a temperature-resistant plastic material. 
     
     
       15. The gas compressor assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising an intake tract, wherein the compressor bypass is configured to direct the pressurized airflow into the intake tract. 
     
     
       16. The gas compressor assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of bends includes five bends. 
     
     
       17. The gas compressor assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes a valve housing and a piston configured to shift therein, and wherein the feature configured to retain the baffle is one of mechanically fixed to the valve housing and integrally formed therewith. 
     
     
       18. The gas compressor assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the feature is configured as one or more projections configured to engage and fix the baffle when the baffle is arranged inside the compressor bypass.